Explore More - 2018

LANDS OF center to the

LANDS OF center to the Design Museum, where we learned about the history of Finnish textiles, furniture and homeware. In Helsinki, we were also introduced to the most Finnish of inventions, the sauna. This bathing ritual has formed part of life here for more than 2,000 years and there are more saunas in Finland than cars—we even spotted one on a Ferris wheel. But rather than take a sauna in the sky, I took to the Sauna on Viking Sky, in the ship’s beautiful Spa, which also has a Thermal Pool, steam room and Snow Grotto open to all. During the Nordic Bathing Night, I discovered the health and beauty benefits of the traditional hot and cold ritual, and even being brushed with a birch twig felt therapeutic. For many, the highlight of this cruise is the two-day stay in St. Petersburg. This glorious city was founded in 1703 by Peter the Great and was for 200 years the capital of Russia. Today, it is the cultural capital, boasting more than 2,000 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, along with hundreds of museums and galleries, the most famous of which is the Hermitage. You can explore this colossal museum, housed in five buildings, on a choice of optional excursions. We opted for a tour around the Winter Palace, one-time home of the Russian imperial family. Facing the Neva River, the building was designed inside and out by Rastrelli in the baroque style and is itself a work of art. You cannot visit Russia without exploring at least one of its churches, and St. Petersburg is home to two of the finest. We spotted St. Isaac’s Cathedral from the ship, its gilded cupola glittering in the sunlight, and were thrilled that a tour of its interior was part of our 40 EXPLORE MORE 2018

VIKING HOMELANDS canal cruise excursion. St. Isaac’s is truly majestic. It can hold 10,000 people, and boasts more than 60 colorful mosaics of famous paintings. Smaller, but no less dazzling is the iconic Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood, built on the spot where Alexander II was assassinated. Its interior is covered in 7,000 square feet of exquisite and intricate mosaics made from gold leaf and gemstones. Having explored the largest country in the world, we moved on to one of the smallest. Like its neighbors, Estonia was for decades occupied by the Soviet Union and was united in the 1980s in what has become known as the Singing Revolution. Waving national flags and singing patriotic songs (both activities were banned), the people of Estonia joined hands with those in Latvia and Lithuania in a vocal and peaceful cry for freedom. We learned this from our guide who led us around the beautifully preserved Old Town in Tallinn and up to its hilltop church where we were rewarded with the best views over the town. Tallinn is one of Northern Europe’s oldest cities, but it is also one of the most forward thinking, and it is nicknamed the “Silicon Valley of Europe” because of its tech industry. Another Baltic country to break the bonds of Soviet—and German—rule is Poland. In Gdańsk, we sailed quite literally into history; just a few yards from where we docked is the Westerplatte on the Vistula River, where the first shots of World War II were fired in September 1939. We also learned about how hard the Polish fought, decades later, to bring about the fall of Communism. Gdańsk is glorious. One of the richest cities in the Hanseatic League, the Old Town is a fairy-tale fusion of red-brick churches and beautifully restored Renaissance and Gothic gabled houses, once the homes of wealthy merchants. The historic Long Market is an especially lovely cobblestone street, lined with cafés and restaurants, and shops selling every shade of amber Clockwise, from facing page: An alleyway in Stockholm’s old town; Helsinki’s Temppeliaukio Church; a dazzling church interior in St. Petersburg; a Dalecarlian horse ornament imaginable. Beside the canal, the largest port crane in medieval Europe fronts the Isle of Granaries. Poland was the grain basket of Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries, and in a converted granary we discovered another one of the country’s gems—its beer. The microbrewery in the Hotel Gdańsk produces an array of ales, perfect for toasting a memorable trip. All the Baltic cities are stars in their own right. But the biggest star of all is Viking Sky. Bright, beautiful and always a pleasure to come home to after a day of exploration on shore—I cannot wait to return. GETTING THERE: A 15-day Viking Homelands voyage travels from Bergen to Stockholm or in reverse from April to September. As you enjoy your travels, we invite you to share your photos and the stories behind them on MyVikingStory.com. EXPLORE MORE 2018 41